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Short bed - 5th wheel - busted rear window

MTPockets1
Explorer
Explorer
A short bed GMC backing Montanna into space yesterday, turned a bit tight and just touched his rear window with his 5vr nose and broke out the rear window. I've heard this before and am glad to have my long bed. My first truck was a short bed and never had a problem as I was always very careful. Also, Ford short bed is 6'9" while I believe others are a couple inches shorter. Could make a difference.
2012 3055RL Big Horn - Dexter upgraded axles - G rated LT Tires
MorRyde, Genset, Dual Panes, 2 A/C, Yeti Package
2013 F350 DRW 4x4 Crew King Ranch
20 REPLIES 20

blofgren
Explorer
Explorer
45Ricochet wrote:
Real trucks have 8 lugs, no plugs, a 8' bed and 6 tires :B Anything else is merely a grocery getter with a hitch for popping sliding windows, and starting weight debates :W
There I said it, but you know I'm kidding guys. Well kind of :E


LOL, I don't think my truck would start much of a weight debate with 14k lbs GVWR and the clearance issue for me is a non issue now with our new to us fiver with rounded front cap. Oh, but it does get used as a grocery getter at times though!:B
2013 Ram 3500 Megacab DRW Laramie 4x4, 6.7L Cummins, G56, 3.73, Maximum Steel, black lthr, B&W RVK3670 hitch, Retrax, Linex, and a bunch of options incl. cargo camera
2008 Corsair Excella Platinum 34.5 CKTS fifth wheel with winter package & disc brakes

Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Explorer II
WeBeFulltimers wrote:
If you put your rig in the position of hitting the back glass of the truck you are putting WAY TOO MUCH STRAIN on the axles of the fiver.


Agreed.

Also I think this thread needed more info up front. Like what kind of front on the camper, where the hitch was installed in the bed, angle of the turn, etc

WeBeFulltimers
Explorer
Explorer
If you put your rig in the position of hitting the back glass of the truck you are putting WAY TOO MUCH STRAIN on the axles of the fiver.
2012 Ford F-350 PSD SRW ** CURT Q24 ** 2018.5 MONTANA 3791RD

rhagfo
Explorer III
Explorer III
hbillsmith wrote:
My 2016 GMC 2500 double cab has the standard 6.6ft bed. My 5er has a sharply sculpted nose and I tow safely with a no slider Andersen Ultimate.


Well yes you can tow a 5er safely without a slider, no real sharp turns, and lose of space in the front closet.

If the 5er has a less sculpted nose you will be very limited on turn radius with the short bed, and no slider.

There are many on the forum that tow a 5er with a short bed, and a 5er designed for SB, without issue.

That said I am a long bed type also, I like being able to get to 90 degrees plus, and have that extra space in the front closet. Our front closet floor is full width and 18" deep side to side.

Just my opinion, by the way, I am sure there are plenty of cases of Long beds that have pushed too far and dented the cab, or busted a window with too sharp of a maneuver.

Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

time2roll
Nomad
Nomad
Bigfoot affair wrote:
My Grandfather was towing a fifth wheel with his GMC 1500 cc 5.5' box. Didn't work out to good for him when he turned it too tight...
Pulrite has a solution. Fast U-Turn is no issue on my 5.5' bed.

hbillsmith
Explorer
Explorer
My 2016 GMC 2500 double cab has the standard 6.6ft bed. My 5er has a sharply sculpted nose and I tow safely with a no slider Andersen Ultimate.
Wildcat2016-295rsx GMC2015-2500HD-DblCab D'max/Allisn+4x4 6.6'Bed
Maxxis235/80/16E;Andersen Ultimate2+4"offset;Airlft1 WirelessComp;GroundCtrl3;MorRyde RubbPinBox+CRE3000;3-Slidecovrs;Champion3100w/DIY ExtndRun;10'Portabote+5hp;Furrion48cam
Visited States

Sport45
Explorer II
Explorer II
Uh-oh, a lot of trucks out there are going to have to saw off a couple lugs on each wheel now to feel "real". ๐Ÿ™‚
โ€™19 F350 SRW CCLB PSD Fx4
'00 F250, CC SWB 4x2, V-10 3.73LS. (sold)
'83 F100 SWB 4x2, 302 AOD 3.55. (parked)
'05 GMC Envoy 4x2 4.2 3.73L.
'12 Edge 2.0 Ecoboost
'15 Cherokee Trailhawk

45Ricochet
Explorer
Explorer
Real trucks have 8 lugs, no plugs, a 8' bed and 6 tires :B Anything else is merely a grocery getter with a hitch for popping sliding windows, and starting weight debates :W
There I said it, but you know I'm kidding guys. Well kind of :E
2015 Tiffin Phaeton Cummins ISL, Allison 3000, 45K GCWR
10KW Onan, Magnum Pure Sine Wave Inverter
2015 GMC Canyon Toad

Previous camping rig
06 Ram 3500 CC LB Laramie 4x4 Dually 5.9 Cummins Smarty Jr 48RE Jacobs brake
06 Grand Junction 15500 GVWR 3200 pin

kw_00
Explorer
Explorer
It can happen but rarely have I heard or seen it, just goto pay attention. Now the short 1/2 ton 5.5 bed trucks are definitely easier to damage the rear window for sure. In all the time that I have pulled with my short bed trucks I have never had the issue.
A truck, a camper, a few toys, but most importantly a wonderful family.

transamz9
Explorer
Explorer
Bionic Man wrote:
BB_TX wrote:
I know there are a lot of people here who say "I have been towing with short bed and no slider for X years and no problem". But this is just reinforcement that, yes, it can happen.


I kind of think the same thing. I always chuckle at that response. I know I needed a slider when I had my short bed. Sounds like the guy you saw did too.
Or he needs to pay attention.
2016 Ram 3500 Mega Cab Limited/2013 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins(sold)/2005 RAM 2500 Cummins/2011 Sandpiper 345 RET (sold) 2015 Sanibel 3601/2008 Nitro Z9 Mercury 250 PRO XS the best motor made.

tegu69
Explorer
Explorer
jbarkley wrote:
Correct me if I am wrong but dont you use the slder only when in a tight spot and not towing?

Not sure why you would need slider when not towing.

schlep1967
Nomad
Nomad
jbarkley wrote:
Correct me if I am wrong but dont you use the slder only when in a tight spot and not towing?

Depends on the hitch. On the pullrite It slides every time you make a fairly sharp turn. Fully automatic. So if you are trying to access the elusive fuel pumps at a tight gas station you do not have to get out and manually unlatch the sliding mechanism, then get back in and pull front to slide the hitch, so you can turn sharp. The pullrite just does it with out you even thinking about it. Of course you can "not" think about it with a manual slider or non slider also. That is when you replace the window like above.
2021 Chevy Silverado LTZ 3500 Diesel
2022 Montana Legacy 3931FB
Pull-Rite Super Glide 4500

MTPockets1
Explorer
Explorer
Bigfoot affair wrote:
MTPockets1 wrote:
A short bed GMC backing Montanna into space yesterday, turned a bit tight and just touched his rear window with his 5vr nose and broke out the rear window. I've heard this before and am glad to have my long bed. My first truck was a short bed and never had a problem as I was always very careful. Also, Ford short bed is 6'9" while I believe others are a couple inches shorter. Could make a difference.


Was the GMC a 1/2 ton? My Grandfather was towing a fifth wheel with his GMC 1500 cc 5.5' box. Didn't work out to good for him when he turned it too tight...
no, it's a 3500.
2012 3055RL Big Horn - Dexter upgraded axles - G rated LT Tires
MorRyde, Genset, Dual Panes, 2 A/C, Yeti Package
2013 F350 DRW 4x4 Crew King Ranch

jbarkley
Explorer
Explorer
Correct me if I am wrong but dont you use the slder only when in a tight spot and not towing?